Source: Celtics willing to double (in terms of $) Heat offer to Ray Allen. Will give 2 years/$12 million. Heat can offer only $3 mill a yr

July 1, 2012 9:45 am via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite

@Chris_Broussard

Chris Broussard

Ray Allen spent the last few months of the season salty at the Boston Celtics, who came within a whisker of dealing him at the trade deadline and gave his starting spot to Avery Bradley, the young upstart who helped Boston’s second-half resurgence.

Several reports have had Allen with one foot out of the door on his way to Miami, or Chicago, or Memphis, or somewhere else where he wouldn’t have to worry about getting traded every time he turned his head. But Danny Ainge isn’t content with letting that happen. He’s reportedly willing to offer Allen a two-year, $12 million contract — or, in other words, double what the Miami Heat can offer.

In the case Allen leaves (and perhaps even if he doesn’t), the Celtics are also interested in adding Jason Terry, who averaged 15.1 points on 43.0 percent shooting and 37.8 from downtown last season for the Mavericks and would give the Celtics a high-scoring element off the bench they haven’t had in years.

In other free agency news, Greg Stiemsma is visiting with the Minnesota Timberwolves today. David Kahn might consider him manna from heaven, or maybe the Timberwolves GM is just interested in Stiemsma’s shot-blocking prowess. The Celtics can match any offer Stiemsma receives, so they’re likely to be very patient in their attempts to keep him this summer.

I’m very busy today, so sorry that my posts of the free agency rumors might be slow.